Car door opening device



Sept. 12, 1967 R. p. NOORLUN 3,340,750

CAR DOOR OPENING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l VIII-I...

INVENTOR Ray 8 Near/a wgw ATTORNEY p 12, 1967 Y R. D. NOORLUN 3,340,750

CAR DOOR OPENING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1966 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 I i Z 4540 hi E6" 9 fa I 47 INVENTOR Pay 0 Near/an BY Z Wi ma/1% ORNEY UnitedStates. Patent 3,340,750 CAR DOOR OPENING DEVICE Ray D. Noorlun, 865Dealton Ave., St. Paul, Minn. 55102 Filed Mar. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 541,42412 (llaims. (Cl. 81-3) This invention relates to an improvement in a cardoor opening device and deals particularly with a tool useful in openinga locked automobile door from the outside of a car.

Many automobiles which are produced at the present time are equippedwith car door locks which are actuated by a reciprocable locking buttonextending through the frame of the door window. When it is desired tolock the car from the outside, the locking button is pushed down whilethe operating handle is held in a predetermined position. When the dooris closed the dooris automatically locked and can. only be opened by theuse of a key. Very occasionally, the car operators forget to remove thekeys from the ignition switch prior to closing the door and thus arelocked out with no simple means of gaining access to the interior of thecar. Tools have been provided which are designed for insertion betweenone of the windows and its frame to lift the locking button and tounlock the door. However, no such tool with which I am familiar operateseffectively.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool which may bereadily inserted between a window and its frame, the window usuallycomprising the ventilating windowin theforward part of the front window.Thetool is provided with a notched end designed to straddle the shank ofthe locking button. A flat spring which is normally biased towarddiverging relation from the notched end of the tool is also provided atits extremity with a notch designed to straddle the shank of the lockingbutton. Means is provided for holding the flat spring in surface contactwith the notched end of the tool until the locking button is engaged inthe notch. As the aligned notches in the spring and tool end straddlethe locking button, the spring is automatically disengaged and allowedto spring away from the notched end of the tool thus engaging thelocking button and raising it into unlocked position.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the tool maybe formed of an elongated strip of flat metal and the spring maycomprise a thin flat strip which does not greatly increase the thicknessof the tool when held in surface contact therewith. As a result, thenotched end of the tool may be readily inserted between the ventilatingwindow and its frame by flexing the resilient gasket which normallyforms a seal between this window and its frame. The tool may be shapedto angle back toward the front window of the vehicle which is rearwardlyof the ventilating window. Thus, the notched end of the tool may he slidalong the window frame of the front window until the notched end engagesthe shank of the locking button. Engagement of the locking button in thenotch acts to release the spring from engagement with the notch and topermit the spring to move toward its normal diverging relation to thenotched end of the tool. This action causes the notch of the spring toengage beneath the enlarged upper end of the locking button and to raisethe locking button into unlocked position.

A further feature of the present invention resides in 3,34%,750'Patented Sept. 12, 1967 "ice the fact that in preferred form the toolincludes a pair of elongated thin metal strips which are pivotallyconnected together so that the notched end of the blade may be angularlyrelated to the handle end thereof.

. As the tool is inserted between the ventilating window and its frame,the two parts of the tool body may be pivoted into the desired angularrelation so that the notched end of the tool may engage the lockingbutton.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that thenormally diverging spring is pivotally connected to the notched end ofthe tool at a point spaced from this end. A finger on one of these partsextends through the notch in the upper part and holds the two parts insubstantial surface contact with the notches out of complete registry.The notches are so shaped that as they are moved into locking buttonencircling position, the spring is pivoted to some extent relative tothe notched end of the tool thus disengaging the locking ear andpermitting the separation of the notched end of the tool and the notchedend of the spring.

While the tool has been described as being insertable between theventilating window and its frame, the tool is also of sufiicient lengthto extend through any vehicle window on one side of the car and toengage the locking button on the opposite side thereof. Thus, if any ofthe windows are slightly open, the tool may be inserted through thislimited space and may function to unlock the door on the opposite sideof the car.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the tool in position about thelocking button of a car door just after the locking button has beenelevated into unlocked position.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view through a portion of a car door equippedwith a ventilating window and a regular vertically movable window andshowing the manner in which the tool may be inserted between theventilator window and its frame to engage the locking button normallypositioned at the opposite side of the door.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the end of the tool showing thegeneral construction of the handle blade and spring when the spring isin diverging position.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the notched ends of the spring and of thehandle blade when these two elements are in interlocked position.-

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view through a portion of the handle blade andspring, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan View of the handle blade and spring ininterlocked position.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of construction inreadiness for operation.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the structure shown in FIGURE 7 inopen position.

FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view of an end of the elongated support orblade.

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view through the blade on the line 1010of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a bottom plan view of the springs.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view through the spring on line 1212 of FIGURE11.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view through the combined 3 )lade and spring,the position of the section being iniicated by the line 1313 of FIGURE7.

As will be obvious, the door unlocking tool A may lary considerably inits specific shape or design. In the particular form illustrated, thedevice A includes an elongated strip 10 of metal or other fairly rigidmaterial which is pivotally connected at 11 to a forward handle bladeportion 12. The pivot 11 preferably holds the bandle parts 10 and 12under friction so that relative rotation between the parts is resistedby friction. This arrangement is provided so that the two parts of thehandle will tend to remain in an adjusted angular relation.

As is indicated in the drawings, the forward blade portion 12 isprovided in its end with a notch indicated in general by the numeral 13.The notch 13 is shown as having tapered inlet portions 14 and 15 tendingto guide the shank of the locking button toward the center of the notch.The notch 13 is also provided with a narrower portion having generallyparallel sides 16 and 17 communicating with the tapered portions 14 and15 leading to the notch end 19.

A flat spring 20 is pivotally connected at 21 to the handle portion 12and is substantially coextensive therewith. A notch 22 is provided inthe end of the spring 20 which more or less registers with the notch 13and the spring 20 is normally bent so as to diverge away from the planeof the handle portion 12. The notch 22 is shown as having generallyparallel sides 23 and 24. A narrower notch extension 25 is provided atthe base of the notch 22 and an integral finger 26 projects laterally ofthe notch extension 25. The finger 26 is offset from the plane of thenotched end of the spring 20, the amount of offset being equal to orslightly greater than the thickness of the material forming the handleportion 12. This offset finger 26 is designed to extend beneath the edge17 of the narrower portion of the notch 13 when the spring strip 20 issubstantially aligned with the end of the handle blade 12. When in thisposition, the two notches are not in complete registry.

In actual practice the undersurface of the end of the blade 12 isnotched or grooved as indicated at 27 to reduce the thickness thereof.This groove 27 is best illustrated in FIGURES and 6 of the drawings. Theflat spring 20 is usually relatively thin as compared to the thicknessof the blade 12 and the groove 27 is of proper depth so that the hookend 26 or offset ear does not extend below the lower surface of themember 12.

As is indicated in the drawings, the tapered edge 14 of the notch 13 ofthe blade 12 extends inwardly beyond the inner edge 29 of the side 23 ofthe notch 22 in the spring 20. Furthermore, the inlet edge 15 of thenotch 13 is positioned outwardly of the inner edge 30 of the notch side24 when the ear 26 is engaged beneath the edge 17. Thus, as the tool isurged toward the shank, the tapered edge 15 urges the shank of thelocking button against the edge 30 of the spring notch 22 thus acting topivot the spring about the axis of the pivot 21 as the shank of thelocking button moves toward the base of the notch. This pivotal movementof the spring 20 continues until the car 26 is disengaged from beneaththe edge 17. As soon as the car 26 is disengaged, the spring 20 springsinto diverging relation to the blade 12 moving the locking button intounlocked position.

FIGURE 1 of the drawings illustrates the locking button 31 projectingfrom the window frame 32. The button 31 is provided with an enlargedhead 33 which may be engaged by the sides of the notch to move thelocking button upwardly. It should also be noted that the tool will workequally well in inverted position. When used in the manner illustratedin FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, the notch 22 of the spring 20engages the locking button 31 to move the same upwardly into theposition shown in FIGURE 1. If the tool is held in inverted position,the enlarged upper end 32 of the locking button is engaged by the notch13 in the blade 12 and the spring 20 engages against the upper surfaceof the window frame 32 to force the blade upwardly to unlock the button.

FIGURE 2 diagrammatically illustrates the manner in which the tool isused. In usual practice, the thin bladed tool is inserted beneath theventilating window 35 of the car B, the resilient gasket forming a sealat this point being flexed out of the way to permit admission of thetool. The two parts 10 and 12 of the tool are usually bent into angularrelation as illustrated in FIGURE 2 and the tool is fed into the carwhile in such an angular position. By manipulating the end 36 of thehandle 10 which remains on the exterior of the car, the notched end ofthe tool may be slid and swung into position embracing the shank 31 ofthe locking button. The tapered edge 15 of the slot 13 acts as a cam toforce the shank of the locking button against the side 24 of the spring20 thus pivoting the spring 20 an amount necessary to disengage the ear26 from the side 17 of the notch 13. The spring then swings away fromthe blade 20 to move the locking button into unlocked position in themanner described. The position of the shank 31 of the locking button asit enters the notches is indicated in dotted outline in FIG- URE 4 ofthe drawings. It will be noted that the shank 31 is of a diameterapproximately equal to the width of the base portion of the notch 17 andthe cam surface 15 is of sufficient length to cause disengagement of thecar 26.

The particular arrangement illustrated is advantageous as the car 26 ismaintained within the confines of the blade 12 and the ear 26 iscentrally located relative to the spring so as to hold the spring insurface contact with the blade 12 without danger of striking a part ofthe automobile body during insertion and becoming accidentallydisengaged. However, the car 26 could be located either on a side of thespring 20 or on the opposite side of the blade 12 if preferred. Itshould also be noted that in the event the tool is always to be usedwith the spring 20 uppermost, the side 14 of the notch 13 could beeliminated although in practice the notch side 14 acts to assist inprotecting the spring from accidental movement.

In FIGURES 7 through 13 of the drawings a modified form of constructionis illustrated, being shown in general by the letter C. The main pointof difference between the tool A and the tool C lies in the fact that inthe tool A different dies are required for forming the ends of the bladeand spring, while in the tool C, the same die may be used to form theends of both of these members.

In general, the tool C includes an elongated blade 40 similar to theblade 12 of the tool A. The blade 40 may be pivotally connected to ahandle portion 10 by a rivet 11 similar to the construction which hasbeen previously described.

The blade 40 is provided with a notch 41 in its end extremity, the notch41 including a pair of generally parallel sides 42 and 43 which are atan angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the blade. The edge 42 isdesigned to form a cam surface designed to bear against the shank 31 ofthe push button beneath the head 33. An aperture 44 having a countersunkarea 45 encircling the same is provided in the blade 40 spacedrearwardly from the notch 41.

The spring 46 is pivotally connected to the blade 40 by means of a pivot47 which is sufficiently tight to resist relative pivotal action betweenthe spring and the blade. The spring 46 is provided with a notch 47 inits end extremity, the notch 47 being identical in shape to the notch 41and including generally parallel sides 49 and 50 connected by a roundedend 51. The side 49 is inclined in the manner to act as a cam surface asthe tool is engaged about the shank 31 of the locking button.

An attaching button 52 is supported upon the spring 46 in the mannerbest illustrated in FIGURE 12 of the drawings. The button 52 includes ashank 53 having a reduced diameter portion 54 which extends through anaperture 55 in the spring. The end of the reduced diameter portion 54 isriveted over as indicated at 56 to anchor the button to the spring. Thebutton includes an enlarged head 57 which is of proper diameter toextend through the aperture 44 in the blade 40.

As is indicated in the drawings, the notch 47 of the spring 46 isreversed relative to the notch 41 of the blade 40. As a result, when thespring and blade are in surface contact, the cam edges 42 and 49 are inopposed relation and form a generally V-shaped notch. When in theposition illustrated in FIGURE 7, the head of 57 of the button 52 islocked over the countersunk portion 45 sur- 1 ounding the aperture 44and the head of the button holds the spring in substantial surfacecontact to the blade 40. However, as the shank of the operating button31 is engaged in the V-shaped notch formed by the cam surfaces 42 and49, these cam surfaces are urged apart, pivoting the spring 46 about theaxis of the rivet 47 until the head 57 of the button 52 is disengagedfrom the countersunk area 45 surrounding the aperture 44 and the head 57becomes aligned with the aperture. At this point, the force of thespring will pull the button head through the aperture and the spring 46will flex away from the blade 40 into the open position illustrated inFIGURE 8'.

In illustrating the tool C, the spring has been indicated as secured tothe undersurface of the blade. As in the previous construction, the toolis invertable and will operate either with the blade uppermost or withthe spring uppermost. Most commonly, the tool is used with the spring 46above the blade so that the spring will engage beneath the head 33 ofthe locking button 31 and move it vertically into unlocked position.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in a car door openingdevice, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodimentthereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made withinthe scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

I claim:

1. A door opening device for use in combination with car doors having areciprocable locking button projecting from the door, the devicecomprising an elongated strip of relatively rigid material, said striphaving a notched end for receiving said button, a spring pivotallyconnected to said blade at a point spaced from said notched end, saidspring having an end normally diverging away from said notched end, saidspring end having a notch therein designed to receive the lookingbutton, means cooperable between said elongated strip and said springfor holding said spring in surface contact with said strip in oneposition of said spring, and a cam surface on one of said notched endsengageable against said locking button as said locking button isreceived into the notch of said strip to disengage said last namedmeans, whereby said notched end of said spring will flex away from saidnotched end of said strip.

2. A tool for use in opening locked vehicle doors having a reciprocablelocking button projecting from the door, the locking button having anenlarged end, and having a shank adjoining said enlarged end, the toolincluding an elongated handle member having a notched end, a springmember pivotally connected to said handle member at a point spaced fromsaid notched end, said spring member being substantially coextensivewith said handle member, and said spring member normally being supportedin diverging relation from said handle member, said spring member havinga notched end designed to receive the shank of the locking button, and acam surface adjoining the notch in one of said members, a locking memberon one of said members engageable with the other member in one pivotedposition thereof to hold said members in substantial surface contact,the notch in one of said members being somewhat misaligned from thenotch in the other member when said locking member is holding saidmembers in surface contact, said cam surface engaging said button shankas said shank is received into said notches thereby .causing said springmember to pivot into position to disengage said locking means, wherebythe notched end of the spring and the notched end of the handle membermay spring apart and one of said notches may engage the enlarged end ofsaid locking button to raise the same.

3-. The structure of claim 3 and in which said handle member includes apair of relatively pivotal elongated blades.

4. The structure of claim 3 and in which said locking member comprisesan offset ear on one of said members engageable over a portion of theother member.

5. The structure of claim 3 and in which said locking member comprisesan ofiset ear on one of said members engageable through the notch of theother member and against a portion of the surface thereof.

6-. A door unlocking device for car doors havinga reciprocable lockingbutton projecting from a frame surface of the car, the button having ashank and an enlarged head, the device comprising an elongated handlemember, a spring member supported by said handle member at a pointspaced from one end thereof and normally diverging therefrom, one ofsaid members having a notched end designed to encircle said shank butnot said head, a cam surface on the other of said members in the path ofmovement of the shank when received by said notched end, locking meanson one of said members engageable with the other member to hold said members in substantial surface contact, said locking means being disengagedby engagement of said shank against said cam surface, whereby saidspring member will spring into diverging position to engage saidenlarged head and slide said locking button.

7. A door unlocking device for car doors having a reciprocable lockingbutton projecting from a frame surface of the car, the button having ashank and an enlarged head, the device comprising an elongated handlemember, a second member supported by said first member at a point spacedfrom an end thereof, said second member having an end substantiallycoextensive with said end of said handle member, being resiliently urgedsaid ends apart, a locking means on one member engageable with the othermember to hold said ends in substantial surface contact, one of saidmembers having a notched end designed to encircle the shank, but not thehead, of said locking button between said head, and said frame surfacefrom which said locking button projects, and means in the path ofmovement of said shank when entering said notched end for disengagingsaid locking means, whereby said members may spread into divergingrelation and urge said head away from said frame surface.

8. The construction described in claim 8 and in which said locking meansincludes an offset ear on said one member extending into the notch ofthe other member and engaging said other member adjacent the edge ofsaid notch.

9. The construction described in claim 8 and in which said locking meansincludes a rivet projecting from one of said members and having anenlarged head thereupon, said other member having an aperturetherethrough through which said enlarged head may extend, said enlargedhead being engageable over a portion of said other member adjoining theaperture.

10. The construction described in claim 10 and including a counter sunkarea'encircling said aperture and over which said rivet head engages.

11. The construction described in claim 10 and in which said notchedends on said strip and on said spring are of identical shape.

12. A door opening device for use in combination with car doors having areciprocable locking button projecting from the door, the devicecomprising a pair of longitudinal strips having adjacent free endsnormally oiased apart, latch means for holding said free ends togetherand releasable upon engagement with the re- :iprocable button, and meansprovided on one of said free ends for gripping said button and movingsaid button into an unlocking position upon release of said latch means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,885,917 5/1959 Smith 8132,907,237 10/1959 Casas 8l3 OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner.

12. A DOOR OPENING DEVICE FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH CAR DOORS HAVING ARECIPROCABLE LOCKING BUTTON PROJECTING FROM THE DOOR, THE DEVICECOMPRISING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL STRIPS HAVING ADJACENT FREE ENDSNORMALLY BIASED APART, LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID FREE ENDS TOGETHERAND RELEASABLE UPON ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RECIPROCABLE BUTTON, AND MEANSPROVIDED ON ONE OF SAID FREE ENDS FOR GRIPPING SAID BUTTON AND MOVINGSAID BUTTON INTO AN UNLOCKING POSITION UPON RELEASE OF SAID LATCH MEANS.